DeepSummary
The episode explores the evolving relationship between China and the West over the past decades. Initially, China was seen as a manufacturing center and economic partner, but concerns over national security threats like cyber espionage and political interference have grown in recent years. The episode delves into incidents like the 2001 standoff between a US spy plane and Chinese jet, as well as the 2010 Google hacking incident, to illustrate the rising tensions.
The host interviews BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera, who has worked on a podcast series examining China's rise and its perceived threat to the West. They discuss how China views the current international order as Western-centric and seeks to reshape it according to its own values and priorities. Corera also highlights areas of friction, such as economic espionage, human rights, and domestic stability, that drive China's intelligence activities.
The episode explores the risks of miscalculation and escalation between China and the West, given their differing systems and interests. While there are now more channels of communication, the potential for conflict remains high. The discussion also touches on China's alleged attempts at political interference abroad and its rejection of such claims.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The West's perception of China has shifted from an economic partner to a potential security threat due to concerns over cyber espionage, political interference, and clashing values.
- China views the current international order as Western-centric and seeks to reshape it according to its own priorities and values.
- Areas of friction between China and the West include economic espionage, human rights, domestic stability, and competing geopolitical interests.
- There is a risk of miscalculation and escalation between China and the West due to differing systems, interests, and values.
- While channels of communication have improved, the potential for conflict remains high as China's rise challenges the existing global order.
- China rejects accusations of political interference in other countries' affairs, citing principles of non-interference.
- Technology is a key battleground in the geopolitical rivalry between China and the West, with implications for global power dynamics.
- Incidents like the 2001 spy plane standoff and the 2010 Google hacking illustrate the growing tensions between China and the West over the years.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If you're working today at the cutting edge of technology, then geopolitics is interested in you. Even if you're not interested in geopolitics, countries that lead the way on these very powerful emerging technologies will, over the next few years, come to wield very immense amounts of power over the future direction of our globe.“ by Ken McCallum
- “There has been this sense of this is the big subject in national security, but I think there's been a struggle to kind of get it into focus and look at it and understand what it is that China means and what kind of threats or challenges it poses, particularly when viewed from the west.“ by Gordon Corera
- “I think the question becomes one of what are the risks of that friction becoming a collision and escalating into a crisis and a war. And I think certainly there are people who worry about that. And so the risks, I think, of miscalculation are quite high.“ by Gordon Corera
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Episode Information
The Global Story
BBC World Service
5/20/24
For decades, China has been 'on the rise'. In that time, perceptions in the West have shifted from seeing the country as a manufacturing centre, to a potential partner to a possible threat. But how does China see the West? And if Beijing is hoping to bring a change in the global order, is it on a collision course with governments in the West?
The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera has been taking a deep dive into this relationship for a new podcast series 'Shadow War: China and the West', which is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001z66c
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This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Richard Moran. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.